Things to Do in Lancaster

Leave civilian life behind and suit up for three hours of extreme high-octane battles to determine whose clothes are the cleanest. Land Paintball provides all the necessities (a $17 value for rental package), including a mask, a marker, an air tank (with enough air to last the day), a hopper, a barrel sleeve, and 100 paintballs (a $5 value)—enough to apply a healthy base coat to any nearby corpus canvas. In the event that you take down 100 opponents with immaculate accuracy, or if you decide to graffiti your name on a nearby tree trunk, additional paintballs may be purchased on-site.

The rock bridge spans more than 100 feet in length, arching to a height of 50 feet as it connects to the opposing shores of the Hocking River. As kayakers glide beneath it, they look up at eons of natural history: a bridge carved out by centuries of glacial waters that eroded the sandstone away particle by particle. They gaze up at the awesome spectacle until a white-tailed deer dashes along the shore, stealing their focus.

Hocking Valley Canoe Livery and Fun Center's outdoor enthusiasts continue provide connections to moments such as these, just as they have for more than 30 years. The staff furnishes gear such as canoes and inner tubes for river trips, during which sportsmen may glimpse river dwellers such as leatherback turtles and kingfishers sneaking sandwiches from unsuspecting picnickers. Dedicated to keeping the river clean for future generations, Hocking Valley's staff also regularly engages in conservation efforts, including sponsorship of the annual Hocking River Cleanup

Back at the fun center, crews oversee amusements that range from go-kart rides to mini golf. With such a multiplicity of diversions, Hocking Valley's team often customizes recreational packages for its guests that combine several activities. To help visitors enjoy the area for more than a day, the grounds also affords outdoorsmen lodging, including riverside campgrounds and Amish camper cabins.

The staff at Equestrian Ridge Farm has been tending to steeds and riders on its 200-acre estate for more than 10 years. During riding lessons in a medley of styles—including dressage, single driving, and trail riding—trainers educate equestrians of all levels at the facility’s two large, indoor arenas. The barn houses between 15–20 horses at any given time, a handful of which are reserved for lessons or reenactments of chase scenes from The Lone Ranger. Equestrian Ridge also offers under-saddle training for horses by an experienced instructor who tailors each session to the steed’s temperament and riding style.